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Need help making an article more accessible to those with dyscalculia
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| Sparkiee |
Posted on March 03 2012 06:59 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 2
Joined: 2012-03-03
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I am an editor at Wikipedia and I would like to make articles more accessible to those with dyscalculia. Currently, I am working on an article titled "Golden ratio". It's about a specific ratio between two numbers which occurs frequently in nature and the arts. I'm interested in learning how equations or formulas in articles are perceived.
If you see an article with a formula in it, do you still attempt to read the article? Does it make a difference if the equation has variables or symbols in it, like a+b=c ? What if it only has numbers like 3+4=7 ?
Also, if anyone has any other comments on the article, please let me know.
http://en.wikiped...lden_ratio
(ps - Happy dyscalculia day!) |
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| Ladyhawke |
Posted on March 04 2012 03:15 AM
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Member
Location: Canada
Posts: 144
Joined: 2011-11-18
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Simple arithmetic will not turn me off your article, but if you throw any higher level math than that, such as a fraction or algebra, you've lost me. I am at about a Grade 3 level for math.
Ladyhawke
Algebra? When I learn decimals and fractions, you're welcome to try teaching me, but unless you have the patience of a saint and are very long-lived, good luck with that...  |
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| Sparkiee |
Posted on March 04 2012 04:24 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 2
Joined: 2012-03-03
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If you see an image like this:
And I say that the pie is cut into four pieces, each piece is one forth.
Is that easy to understand?
Is it just the numbers and symbols of fractions that are difficult. like:
1 x .25 = 1/4 ? |
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| Ladyhawke |
Posted on March 05 2012 02:14 AM
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Member
Location: Canada
Posts: 144
Joined: 2011-11-18
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Ok, the image was easy to understand. Interesting...
Algebra? When I learn decimals and fractions, you're welcome to try teaching me, but unless you have the patience of a saint and are very long-lived, good luck with that... |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on March 05 2012 05:23 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6136
Joined: 2008-05-25
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3/5/12
Hi Sparkiee,
Nice to meet you. I really like the way that you have been talking to us (ie Ladyhawk). The questions you ask are relevant to what we are dealing with. I've always been good at art and 'making things', so proportion makes sense to me. With that practical way of using math (geometry), I was able to make sense of fractions and work fractions. I made it to Pre-Algebra, getting an A, but couldn't pass the next level up, Elementary Algebra. Even though I've learned it many times, I keep forgetting how to turn a fraction into a decimal. (I'm not saying this, of course, because I want someone to swoop down and tell me here (again) how to turn a fraction into a decimal,... and if anyone was thinking of doing this, please don't.) I'm telling you this, Sparkiee, because I just want you to understand that our problem isn't always that we can't 'see' the math, or can't 'learn' the math, but that since we learn and then keep loosing the information, after a while, we just decide that there are better uses for our time. But please don't let me discourage you in your train of thought. We do appreciate your interest, ideas, and support for our disability. Thanks, and 'carry on'. I'll be interested in where you are headed with this. - jus'
Edited by justfoundout on March 05 2012 05:25 PM |
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| Ladyhawke |
Posted on March 06 2012 03:27 AM
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Member
Location: Canada
Posts: 144
Joined: 2011-11-18
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*sigh* That's so true, Jus! I can't count the number of times (pun intended, hehe) that I've been shown how to do fractions and decimals but I never retain the information.
I can't even contemplate trying algebra. I see that little x beside a number and panic. In my mind, letters belong to words, so I can never make sense of what that x is doing in a math problem.
Algebra? When I learn decimals and fractions, you're welcome to try teaching me, but unless you have the patience of a saint and are very long-lived, good luck with that... |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on March 06 2012 03:41 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3063
Joined: 2008-12-31
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Hi Sparkiee, that image of the orange pie shape with the sections? I didn't understand that kinda thing til college. I currently have to work through it to see what you mean about the "fourths" but I do get it - now.
This: 1 x .25 = 1/4 ? that you have - makes no sense to me.
If I see any kind of formula in a written article like you describe, I tend to the ignore the formula and may ignore the article. |
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